Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja Wins Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz

Final Leg of the Grand Chess Tour Kicks Off Today in Saint Louis

SAINT LOUIS, MO. (August 19, 2024) – As an integral component of the Grand Chess Tour (GCT) since 2017, the 2024 Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz tournament did not disappoint with 27 rounds of fast-paced action, culminating in a championship for French Grandmaster (GM) Alireza Firouzja on Friday, Aug. 16.

“I’m feeling very happy about my success; it’s a good feeling to play in this club,” said Firouzja. “The GCT is one of the most important events of the year and I’m looking forward to playing in the final tournament and hope to finish strongly.”

The tournament, hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club and held at the World Chess Hall of Fame, awarded $175,000 in prizes including $40,000 to Firouzja for his first-place finish, as well as $30,000 to GM Wesley So from the United States for finishing in second place and $25,000 to GM Hikaru Nakamura, also from the United States, for finishing in third place.

Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz Results

With his win, Firouzja overtook the GCT lead from GM Fabiano Caruana, as the participants head into the final leg of the series, the Sinquefield Cup.

Current Grand Chess Tour Leaderboard

This year’s GCT participants are competing for a prize purse of $1.5 million over the course of the 2024 season. The prize fund is provided by the 2024 Grand Chess Tour major sponsors Superbet Foundation and Saint Louis Chess Club, both non-profit organizations that support chess education and the mission to expand the game of chess to a worldwide audience.

The 2024 Sinquefield Cup begins today, Monday, August 19, with live commentary from GM’s Yasser Seirawan, Peter Svidler, Cristian Chirila and IM Nazi Paikidze starting at 1:20 p.m. CDT. Tune in to the Saint Louis Chess Club’s Twitch and YouTube channels.

Live from the World Chess Hall of Fame, the 11th Sinquefield Cup is the last of five legs of the Grand Chess Tour. The nine Tour players are joined by a wildcard (pairings below) for a classical round robin. Join GMs Yasser Seirawan & Peter Svidler, IM Nazi Paikidze, and WGM Anastasiya Karlovich for the move-by-move.

2024.08.19
https://GrandChessTour.org
https://twitter.com/grandchesstour
https://twitch.tv/stlchessclub
https://www.instagram.com/grandchesstourofficial
https://www.facebook.com/GrandChessTour

ROUND 1
| 120 Min. Incr. 30 Sec.
Fabiano Caruana
vs. Alireza Firouzja
Ian Nepomniachtchi

vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
R Praggnanandhaa
vs.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Wesley So

vs. Anish Giri
Ding Liren

vs. Gukesh D

Live from the World Chess Hall of Fame, the 8th Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz is the third of five legs of the Grand Chess Tour. Five of the Tour players are joined by five wildcards (roster below) for a rapid round robin and a blitz double round robin. Today is the final blitz round robin, plus playoffs if necessary. Join GMs Yasser Seirawan, Peter Svidler, & Cristian Chirila, and IM Nazi Paikidze for the move-by-move.

This full program was uploaded due to encoder failure while live.

2024.08.16
https://GrandChessTour.org
https://twitter.com/grandchesstour
https://twitch.tv/stlchessclub
https://www.instagram.com/grandchesstourofficial
https://www.facebook.com/GrandChessTour

BLITZ ROUND 10 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Wesley So (16) vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi (16)
Leinier Dominguez (12) vs. Alireza Firouzja (17.5)
Levon Aronian (15) vs. Fabiano Caruana (13)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (15.5) vs. Hikaru Nakamura (13.5)
R Praggnanandhaa (6.5) vs. Nodirbek Abdusattorov (10)

BLITZ ROUND 11 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Fabiano Caruana vs. Wesley So
Nodirbek Abdusattorov vs. Hikaru Nakamura
Leinier Dominguez vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Alireza Firouzja vs. Levon Aronian
Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. R Praggnanandhaa

BLITZ ROUND 12 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
R Praggnanandhaa vs. Fabiano Caruana
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Levon Aronian vs. Leinier Dominguez
Wesley So vs. Alireza Firouzja
Hikaru Nakamura vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi

BLITZ ROUND 13 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Leinier Dominguez vs. Wesley So
Fabiano Caruana vs. Hikaru Nakamura
Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Levon Aronian vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Alireza Firouzja vs. R Praggnanandhaa

BLITZ ROUND 14 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov vs. Fabiano Caruana
R Praggnanandhaa vs. Leinier Dominguez
Wesley So vs. Levon Aronian
Hikaru Nakamura vs. Alireza Firouzja
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi

BLITZ ROUND 15 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Leinier Dominguez vs. Hikaru Nakamura
Alireza Firouzja vs. Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Wesley So vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Levon Aronian vs. R Praggnanandhaa
Fabiano Caruana vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi

BLITZ ROUND 16 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
R Praggnanandhaa vs. Wesley So
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Fabiano Caruana
Nodirbek Abdusattorov vs. Leinier Dominguez
Hikaru Nakamura vs. Levon Aronian
Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Alireza Firouzja

BLITZ ROUND 17 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Alireza Firouzja vs. Fabiano Caruana
Wesley So vs. Hikaru Nakamura
Levon Aronian vs. Nodirbek Abdusattorov
R Praggnanandhaa vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Leinier Dominguez vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi

BLITZ ROUND 18 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov vs. Wesley So
Fabiano Caruana vs. Leinier Dominguez
Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Levon Aronian
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Alireza Firouzja
Hikaru Nakamura vs. R Praggnanandhaa

PLAYOFFS IF NECESSARY
2 TIED = Two-Game Match | 8 Min. Incr. 3 Sec.
OR
3+ TIED = Round Robin | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
If either scenario fails to produce a winner, the remaining tied players will have an armageddon knockout (White shall have 5 minutes and Black shall have 4 minutes, with a 2 second increment from move 61.)

Live from the World Chess Hall of Fame, the 8th Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz is the third of five legs of the Grand Chess Tour. Five of the Tour players are joined by five wildcards (roster below) for a rapid round robin and a blitz double round robin. Today is the first blitz round robin. Join GMs Yasser Seirawan, Peter Svidler, & Cristian Chirila, and IM Nazi Paikidze for the move-by-move.

2024.08.15
https://GrandChessTour.org
https://twitter.com/grandchesstour
https://twitch.tv/stlchessclub
https://www.instagram.com/grandchesstourofficial
https://www.facebook.com/GrandChessTour

BLITZ ROUND 1 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Hikaru Nakamura (9) vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (11)
Ian Nepomniachtchi (11) vs. Wesley So (9)
Alireza Firouzja (11) vs. Leinier Dominguez (9)
Fabiano Caruana (8) vs. Levon Aronian (10)
Nodirbek Abdusattorov (8) vs. R Praggnanandhaa (4)

BLITZ ROUND 2 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Wesley So vs. Fabiano Caruana
Hikaru Nakamura vs. Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Leinier Dominguez
Levon Aronian vs. Alireza Firouzja
R Praggnanandhaa vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi

BLITZ ROUND 3 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Fabiano Caruana vs. R Praggnanandhaa
Nodirbek Abdusattorov vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Leinier Dominguez vs. Levon Aronian
Alireza Firouzja vs. Wesley So
Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Hikaru Nakamura

BLITZ ROUND 4 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Wesley So vs. Leinier Dominguez
Hikaru Nakamura vs. Fabiano Caruana
Nodirbek Abdusattorov vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Levon Aronian
R Praggnanandhaa vs. Alireza Firouzja

BLITZ ROUND 5 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Fabiano Caruana vs. Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Leinier Dominguez vs. R Praggnanandhaa
Levon Aronian vs. Wesley So
Alireza Firouzja vs. Hikaru Nakamura
Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

BLITZ ROUND 6 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Hikaru Nakamura vs. Leinier Dominguez
Nodirbek Abdusattorov vs. Alireza Firouzja
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Wesley So
R Praggnanandhaa vs. Levon Aronian
Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Fabiano Caruana

BLITZ ROUND 7 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Wesley So vs. R Praggnanandhaa
Fabiano Caruana vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Leinier Dominguez vs. Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Levon Aronian vs. Hikaru Nakamura
Alireza Firouzja vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi

BLITZ ROUND 8 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Fabiano Caruana vs. Alireza Firouzja
Hikaru Nakamura vs. Wesley So
Nodirbek Abdusattorov vs. Levon Aronian
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. R Praggnanandhaa
Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Leinier Dominguez

BLITZ ROUND 9 | 5 Min. Incr. 2 Sec.
Wesley So vs. Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Leinier Dominguez vs. Fabiano Caruana
Levon Aronian vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi
Alireza Firouzja vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
R Praggnanandhaa vs. Hikaru Nakamura

Live from the World Chess Hall of Fame, the 8th Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz is the third of five legs of the Grand Chess Tour. Five of the Tour players are joined by five wildcards (roster below) for a rapid round robin and a blitz double round robin. Today are the final three rounds of the rapid round robin. Join GMs Yasser Seirawan, Peter Svidler, & Cristian Chirila, and IM Nazi Paikidze for the move-by-move.

2024.08.14
https://GrandChessTour.org
https://twitter.com/grandchesstour
https://twitch.tv/stlchessclub
https://www.instagram.com/grandchesstourofficial
https://www.facebook.com/GrandChessTour

RAPID ROUND 7 (Games Worth 2 Points) | 25 Min. Incr. 10 Sec.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
(8) vs.
Ian Nepomniachtchi
(8)
Fabiano Caruana
(5) vs. Alireza Firouzja
(8)
Nodirbek Abdusattorov
(5) vs.
Levon Aronian
(7)
Hikaru Nakamura
(5) vs. Wesley So
(5)

Leinier Dominguez
(6) vs. R Praggnanandhaa
(3)

RAPID ROUND 8 (Games Worth 2 Points) | 25 Min. Incr. 10 Sec.
Ian Nepomniachtchi
vs.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Wesley So vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Levon Aronian
vs. Fabiano Caruana
R Praggnanandhaa
vs. Alireza Firouzja
Leinier Dominguez vs. Hikaru Nakamura

RAPID ROUND 9 (Games Worth 2 Points) | 25 Min. Incr. 10 Sec.
Alireza Firouzja
vs.
Levon Aronian
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Leinier Dominguez

Fabiano Caruana vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi
Nodirbek Abdusattorov
vs. Wesley So
Hikaru Nakamura
vs. R Praggnanandhaa

Live from the World Chess Hall of Fame, the 8th Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz is the third of five legs of the Grand Chess Tour. Five of the Tour players are joined by five wildcards (roster below) for a rapid round robin and a blitz double round robin. Today are the middle three rounds of the rapid round robin. Join GMs Yasser Seirawan, Peter Svidler, & Cristian Chirila, and IM Nazi Paikidze for the move-by-move.

2024.08.13
https://GrandChessTour.org
https://twitter.com/grandchesstour
https://twitch.tv/stlchessclub
https://www.instagram.com/grandchesst…
https://www.facebook.com/GrandChessTour

RAPID ROUND 4 (Games Worth 2 Points) | 25 Min. Incr. 10 Sec.
Levon Aronian
(4) vs. Leinier Dominguez (4)
Alireza Firouzja
(3) vs.
Hikaru Nakamura (3)
Fabiano Caruana
(1) vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (5)
Ian Nepomniachtchi
(4) vs. Wesley So (2)
R Praggnanandhaa
(1) vs. Nodirbek Abdusattorov (3)

RAPID ROUND 5 (Games Worth 2 Points) | 25 Min. Incr. 10 Sec.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Alireza Firouzja
Leinier Dominguez
vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi
Hikaru Nakamura vs. Levon Aronian
Nodirbek Abdusattorov
vs. Fabiano Caruana
Wesley So vs. R Praggnanandhaa

RAPID ROUND 6 (Games Worth 2 Points) | 25 Min. Incr. 10 Sec.
Levon Aronian
vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Ian Nepomniachtchi
vs. Hikaru Nakamura
Alireza Firouzja vs. Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Wesley So
vs.
Leinier Dominguez
R Praggnanandhaa vs.
Fabiano Caruana

Live from the World Chess Hall of Fame, the 8th Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz is the third of five legs of the Grand Chess Tour. Five of the Tour players are joined by five wildcards (roster below) for a rapid round robin and a blitz double round robin. Today are the first three rounds of the rapid round robin. Join GMs Yasser Seirawan, Peter Svidler, & Cristian Chirila, and IM Nazi Paikidze for the move-by-move.

2024.08.12
https://GrandChessTour.org
https://twitter.com/grandchesstour
https://twitch.tv/stlchessclub
https://www.instagram.com/grandchesstourofficial
https://www.facebook.com/GrandChessTour

RAPID ROUND 1 (Games Worth 2 Points) | 25 Min. Incr. 10 Sec.
Wesley So
vs.
Fabiano Caruana
Hikaru Nakamura
vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Ian Nepomniachtchi

vs. Alireza Firouzja
Levon Aronian

vs. R Praggnanandhaa
Leinier Dominguez

vs. Nodirbek Abdusattorov

RAPID ROUND 2 (Games Worth 2 Points) | 25 Min. Incr. 10 Sec.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov
vs. Hikaru Nakamura
Alireza Firouzja vs. Wesley So
Levon Aronian

vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi

Fabiano Caruana
vs.
Leinier Dominguez
R Praggnanandhaa
vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

RAPID ROUND 3 (Games Worth 2 Points) | 25 Min. Incr. 10 Sec.
Hikaru Nakamura vs.
Fabiano Caruana
Ian Nepomniachtchi

vs. R Praggnanandhaa
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Wesley So
vs.
Levon Aronian
Leinier Dominguez

vs. Alireza Firouzja

U.S. Grandmaster Wins Second Leg of the Grand Chess Tour; Takes Home $68,750 Prize

BUCHAREST, ROMANIA AND SAINT LOUIS, MO. (July 7, 2024) – Grandmaster (GM) Fabiano Caruana from the United States sealed the win as the 2024 Superbet Chess Classic Romania champion during the second of five legs of the Grand Chess Tour (GCT), claiming the title for the second year in a row.

Caruana secured the victory after a dramatic final day of the tournament in Bucharest where he first lost his classical game to GM Anish Giri, but then won all three games in the playoff round to finish the tournament on top after the tiebreaks.

“Maybe we were making it a bit boring, but on the final day at least we added some excitement,” said Caruana. “I played terribly. Anish punished me. I played a poor game but he played well and then I wasn’t even thinking about winning the tournament anymore. I feel good at the moment but, overall it was a pretty bad day.”

After having a chance to convert a position to give him the outright win, GM Alireza Firouzja as well as GMs Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh Dommaraju all finished in a tie, each winning $58,750.

“It seems like a good tradition in Bucharest to have long tiebreaks. It was a long and nerve-wracking grand finale but we congratulate Fabiano Caruana from the United States for clinching the win in the first classical event and thank you Superbet Foundation for sponsoring the event,” said Michael Khodarkovsky, GCT Executive Director.

Superbet Chess Classic Romania Results

“Congratulations to Fabiano Caruana for another outstanding victory at the Grand Chess Tour-Superbet Chess Classic in Romania. This tournament showcased ten days of thrilling games, highlighting the incredible talent of all participants,” said Augusta Dragic, President of the Superbet Foundation. “At the Superbet Foundation, we are committed to bringing top chess talents to Romania, Poland, and Croatia. Our goal is to inspire the next generation of chess players by providing them the opportunity to learn from the best. We believe in the power of chess to educate, challenge, and inspire. Next week, we continue our journey in Croatia, promising another exciting chapter in promoting and celebrating chess.”

Up next, GCT heads to Zagreb for SuperUnited Croatia Rapid & Blitz. Due to an urgent family matter, GM Magnus Carlsen has regretfully withdrawn from the upcoming event and will be replaced by American GM Levon Aronian as a wildcard at this tournament. Round 1 starts on July 10 with live commentary from GMs Yasser Seirawan and Evgenij Miroshnichenko, as well as IM Jovanka Houska, starting at 7:20 AM CDT on the Saint Louis Chess Club’s Twitch & YouTube channels.

Following Croatia, the GCT heads back to the United States for the final two events: Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz (August 11-16, 2024) and Sinquefield Cup (August 18-29, 2024), both hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club.

Tour participants are competing for an overall tour prize fund of $1.5 million over the course of the 2024 season. Total cash prizes for each of the two classical tournaments are $350,000 and $175,000 per event for rapid and blitz. In addition, a bonus prize fund totaling $275,000 will be awarded at the end of the 2024 season.

The prize fund is provided by the 2024 GCT major sponsors Superbet Foundation and the Saint Louis Chess Club, both non-profit organizations that support chess education and the mission to expand the game of chess globally. For more information, visit grandchesstour.org.